I’m Tim this is hibiscus syriacus or you might know it as Rose of Sharon this is
might know it as Rose of Sharon this is
might know it as Rose of Sharon this is a Brassica oleracea or better known as
a Brassica oleracea or better known as
a Brassica oleracea or better known as broccoli it’s the flower of a broccoli
broccoli it’s the flower of a broccoli
broccoli it’s the flower of a broccoli plant it’s the part we eat and the
plant it’s the part we eat and the
plant it’s the part we eat and the flashes are from Lights changing inside
flashes are from Lights changing inside
flashes are from Lights changing inside of an indoor farm so I have somewhat of
of an indoor farm so I have somewhat of
of an indoor farm so I have somewhat of a unique relationship with these plants
a unique relationship with these plants
a unique relationship with these plants and I suppose plants in general I’m a
and I suppose plants in general I’m a
and I suppose plants in general I’m a biology researcher and an engineer and
biology researcher and an engineer and
biology researcher and an engineer and the work that I do with them might best
the work that I do with them might best
the work that I do with them might best be described as decoding plants or if I
be described as decoding plants or if I
be described as decoding plants or if I could borrow the the title of this block
could borrow the the title of this block
could borrow the the title of this block decoding how plants express themselves
decoding how plants express themselves
decoding how plants express themselves so before I dive into that work I just
so before I dive into that work I just
so before I dive into that work I just want to thank everybody at Ted for
want to thank everybody at Ted for
want to thank everybody at Ted for giving me another opportunity to wear a
giving me another opportunity to wear a
giving me another opportunity to wear a microphone along my ear it was precisely
microphone along my ear it was precisely
microphone along my ear it was precisely five years ago that I dressed is uh
five years ago that I dressed is uh
five years ago that I dressed is uh Justin Bieber as for Halloween and it’s
Justin Bieber as for Halloween and it’s
Justin Bieber as for Halloween and it’s just such a great look for me I just
just such a great look for me I just
just such a great look for me I just appreciate it so thank you Ted but back
appreciate it so thank you Ted but back
appreciate it so thank you Ted but back to plants
so my professional relationship with
so my professional relationship with plants started a few years ago when I
plants started a few years ago when I
plants started a few years ago when I was doing research as part of dr. Lizzi
was doing research as part of dr. Lizzi
was doing research as part of dr. Lizzi wool kovitch is temporal ecology lab at
wool kovitch is temporal ecology lab at
wool kovitch is temporal ecology lab at Harvard just across the river and our
Harvard just across the river and our
Harvard just across the river and our group was deeply interested in a topic
group was deeply interested in a topic
group was deeply interested in a topic called phenology now phenology is simply
called phenology now phenology is simply
called phenology now phenology is simply the study of an organism’s life events
the study of an organism’s life events
the study of an organism’s life events you and I have life events like birth
you and I have life events like birth
you and I have life events like birth and graduation and marriage and
and graduation and marriage and
and graduation and marriage and potentially but hopefully not divorce
potentially but hopefully not divorce
potentially but hopefully not divorce plants also have life events but they’re
plants also have life events but they’re
plants also have life events but they’re morphological it’s their change in their
morphological it’s their change in their
morphological it’s their change in their form so for instance we’re in the midst
form so for instance we’re in the midst
form so for instance we’re in the midst of one right now false in essence is a
of one right now false in essence is a
of one right now false in essence is a phenological event but our lab group was
phenological event but our lab group was
phenological event but our lab group was mostly interested in the spring
mostly interested in the spring
mostly interested in the spring corollary to that event which is
corollary to that event which is
corollary to that event which is budburst and I can walk you through what
budburst and I can walk you through what
budburst and I can walk you through what that looks like this is when the the
that looks like this is when the the
that looks like this is when the the leaves emerge from their winter dormancy
leaves emerge from their winter dormancy
leaves emerge from their winter dormancy this is a white ash bud
this is a white ash bud
this is a white ash bud during dormancy later too it’s swelling
during dormancy later too it’s swelling
during dormancy later too it’s swelling stage onto it breaking open its chute
stage onto it breaking open its chute
stage onto it breaking open its chute elongating and as spring continues its
elongating and as spring continues its
elongating and as spring continues its leaves forming now there are two
leaves forming now there are two
leaves forming now there are two distinct biochemical cues for the plant
distinct biochemical cues for the plant
distinct biochemical cues for the plant to go through that morphological change
to go through that morphological change
to go through that morphological change or cues for it to actually express that
or cues for it to actually express that
or cues for it to actually express that leaf one is the spring times extended
leaf one is the spring times extended
leaf one is the spring times extended day length so the photo period and the
day length so the photo period and the
day length so the photo period and the second is spring times warming
second is spring times warming
second is spring times warming temperatures now which of those two
temperatures now which of those two
temperatures now which of those two variables is the main driver of that
variables is the main driver of that
variables is the main driver of that expression of a leaf is a huge
expression of a leaf is a huge
expression of a leaf is a huge ecological question that’s yet
ecological question that’s yet
ecological question that’s yet unanswered so that’s the one my group
unanswered so that’s the one my group
unanswered so that’s the one my group went after answering and we did it by
went after answering and we did it by
went after answering and we did it by setting up a few experiments as
setting up a few experiments as
setting up a few experiments as scientists do we collected hundreds of
scientists do we collected hundreds of
scientists do we collected hundreds of twigs literally just cuttings off of
twigs literally just cuttings off of
twigs literally just cuttings off of trees between here in Montreal of about
trees between here in Montreal of about
trees between here in Montreal of about 30 different woody tree species or woody
30 different woody tree species or woody
30 different woody tree species or woody species
species
species say these are my old colleagues Jehan
say these are my old colleagues Jehan
say these are my old colleagues Jehan and Dan as we are scavenging for our
and Dan as we are scavenging for our
and Dan as we are scavenging for our species and we would take those cuttings
species and we would take those cuttings
species and we would take those cuttings or twigs back to our lab and put them in
or twigs back to our lab and put them in
or twigs back to our lab and put them in just a splash of water in a flask and
just a splash of water in a flask and
just a splash of water in a flask and then enter them into a growth chamber
then enter them into a growth chamber
then enter them into a growth chamber where we could incubate them in these
where we could incubate them in these
where we could incubate them in these different spring environments or
different spring environments or
different spring environments or different simulations of spring so we
different simulations of spring so we
different simulations of spring so we could really parse out whether photo
could really parse out whether photo
could really parse out whether photo period or temperature was that driver of
period or temperature was that driver of
period or temperature was that driver of leaf expression now critical to that
leaf expression now critical to that
leaf expression now critical to that work was having some sort of standard
work was having some sort of standard
work was having some sort of standard way of deciphering my subjective
way of deciphering my subjective
way of deciphering my subjective observations and turning them into
observations and turning them into
observations and turning them into objective data points so I need so I
objective data points so I need so I
objective data points so I need so I needed a rubric that could tell me what
needed a rubric that could tell me what
needed a rubric that could tell me what what was I looking at and what stage
what was I looking at and what stage
what was I looking at and what stage should I record that plant so I used a
should I record that plant so I used a
should I record that plant so I used a rubric like this and I would enter my
rubric like this and I would enter my
rubric like this and I would enter my chamber and for example I would record
chamber and for example I would record
chamber and for example I would record that white ash as a stage 10 where it’s
that white ash as a stage 10 where it’s
that white ash as a stage 10 where it’s chute is elongated so I’m effectively
chute is elongated so I’m effectively
chute is elongated so I’m effectively decoding these morphological status
decoding these morphological status
decoding these morphological status stages into data points and data
stages into data points and data
stages into data points and data collection ensued and there was quite a
collection ensued and there was quite a
collection ensued and there was quite a lot of it I had about 250 twigs in each
lot of it I had about 250 twigs in each
lot of it I had about 250 twigs in each of four growth chambers and I took data
of four growth chambers and I took data
of four growth chambers and I took data points or collected data twice a week
points or collected data twice a week
points or collected data twice a week for 10 weeks for a total of 20,000
for 10 weeks for a total of 20,000
for 10 weeks for a total of 20,000 measurements that’s a lot of data and if
measurements that’s a lot of data and if
measurements that’s a lot of data and if that’s not enough I actually did it two
that’s not enough I actually did it two
that’s not enough I actually did it two years in a row so that’s 40,000
years in a row so that’s 40,000
years in a row so that’s 40,000 measurements that I took and it nearly
measurements that I took and it nearly
measurements that I took and it nearly drove me insane
it was it was difficult it turns out
it was it was difficult it turns out science is very hard if you do it right
science is very hard if you do it right
science is very hard if you do it right and I salvage the experience because
and I salvage the experience because
and I salvage the experience because each time I went in to measure this
each time I went in to measure this
each time I went in to measure this expression of a leaf I I began to admire
expression of a leaf I I began to admire
expression of a leaf I I began to admire it more and more these are really just
it more and more these are really just
it more and more these are really just amazing organisms it seemed like they
amazing organisms it seemed like they
amazing organisms it seemed like they were designed almost architectural II
were designed almost architectural II
were designed almost architectural II the way their leaves unfolded and
the way their leaves unfolded and
the way their leaves unfolded and unpacked from the buds and it spurred me
unpacked from the buds and it spurred me
unpacked from the buds and it spurred me to deploy my camera and attempt to make
to deploy my camera and attempt to make
to deploy my camera and attempt to make a different visual rubric or dataset
a different visual rubric or dataset
a different visual rubric or dataset because these weren’t quite capturing
because these weren’t quite capturing
because these weren’t quite capturing the beauty that I was seeing in the buds
the beauty that I was seeing in the buds
the beauty that I was seeing in the buds and in my species so I started doing
and in my species so I started doing
and in my species so I started doing computational photography or time-lapse
computational photography or time-lapse
computational photography or time-lapse photography like this shot of a lilac
photography like this shot of a lilac
photography like this shot of a lilac flower inside of one of the growth
flower inside of one of the growth
flower inside of one of the growth chambers this is several weeks of
chambers this is several weeks of
chambers this is several weeks of photography happening here spoiler alert
photography happening here spoiler alert
photography happening here spoiler alert it dies
I showed you a a white ash this is a
I showed you a a white ash this is a black ash bud there’s a little bit of a
black ash bud there’s a little bit of a
black ash bud there’s a little bit of a delay at the beginning of this so this
delay at the beginning of this so this
delay at the beginning of this so this is the the bud breaking open and the
is the the bud breaking open and the
is the the bud breaking open and the leaf emerging it’s just really cool to
leaf emerging it’s just really cool to
leaf emerging it’s just really cool to watch we’re at least a photograph so as
watch we’re at least a photograph so as
watch we’re at least a photograph so as I was taking these measurements and
I was taking these measurements and
I was taking these measurements and doing these photos I added mechanical
doing these photos I added mechanical
doing these photos I added mechanical engineering onto the project and started
engineering onto the project and started
engineering onto the project and started fabricating my own actuators for my
fabricating my own actuators for my
fabricating my own actuators for my camera so this is a rail that I built to
camera so this is a rail that I built to
camera so this is a rail that I built to take more cinematic shots with movement
take more cinematic shots with movement
take more cinematic shots with movement like this shot of a Heyman maelys leaf
like this shot of a Heyman maelys leaf
like this shot of a Heyman maelys leaf opening so the camera is actually
opening so the camera is actually
opening so the camera is actually traversing along a rail so what happened
traversing along a rail so what happened
traversing along a rail so what happened here is is that I noticed a you know a
here is is that I noticed a you know a
here is is that I noticed a you know a change in my own form right I went from
change in my own form right I went from
change in my own form right I went from a biologist to a computational
a biologist to a computational
a biologist to a computational photographer to a mechanical engineer
photographer to a mechanical engineer
photographer to a mechanical engineer and I’m still not sure how my dad feels
and I’m still not sure how my dad feels
and I’m still not sure how my dad feels about this but an artist as well and I
about this but an artist as well and I
about this but an artist as well and I very gratefully have the privilege of
very gratefully have the privilege of
very gratefully have the privilege of wearing all of those hats simultaneously
wearing all of those hats simultaneously
wearing all of those hats simultaneously at MIT Media Lab now where I am decoding
at MIT Media Lab now where I am decoding
at MIT Media Lab now where I am decoding plants in a different way and I’m also a
plants in a different way and I’m also a
plants in a different way and I’m also a farmer for that cause so in the work I
farmer for that cause so in the work I
farmer for that cause so in the work I just described I was really using
just described I was really using
just described I was really using computation and engineering to to decode
computation and engineering to to decode
computation and engineering to to decode how plants express their morphology or
how plants express their morphology or
how plants express their morphology or their form really how we see plants and
their form really how we see plants and
their form really how we see plants and at the Media Lab we’re doing work to
at the Media Lab we’re doing work to
at the Media Lab we’re doing work to decode their flavor or how we taste
decode their flavor or how we taste
decode their flavor or how we taste plants and I’d love to show you what
plants and I’d love to show you what
plants and I’d love to show you what that looks like I’m a part of the open
that looks like I’m a part of the open
that looks like I’m a part of the open agriculture initiative at MIT Media Lab
agriculture initiative at MIT Media Lab
agriculture initiative at MIT Media Lab where we are building open source
where we are building open source
where we are building open source hardware and software to sort of
hardware and software to sort of
hardware and software to sort of reinvasion the future of agriculture
reinvasion the future of agriculture
reinvasion the future of agriculture this is a piece of hardware we built
this is a piece of hardware we built
this is a piece of hardware we built called the food computer and the groups
called the food computer and the groups
called the food computer and the groups led by caleb harper
led by caleb harper
led by caleb harper before I get into what a food computer
before I get into what a food computer
before I get into what a food computer does I’d appreciate it if the members of
does I’d appreciate it if the members of
does I’d appreciate it if the members of this audience could potentially think of
this audience could potentially think of
this audience could potentially think of a flavor memory you have a taste maybe
a flavor memory you have a taste maybe
a flavor memory you have a taste maybe when you were young of a piece of fruit
when you were young of a piece of fruit
when you were young of a piece of fruit or tomato that you wish you could have
or tomato that you wish you could have
or tomato that you wish you could have saved or captured or at least you still
saved or captured or at least you still
saved or captured or at least you still remember I I have one my grandfather’s
remember I I have one my grandfather’s
remember I I have one my grandfather’s blueberry bushes we used to pick
blueberry bushes we used to pick
blueberry bushes we used to pick blueberries in my grandfather’s backyard
blueberries in my grandfather’s backyard
blueberries in my grandfather’s backyard and if only I could have saved what
and if only I could have saved what
and if only I could have saved what those tasted like and and how does that
those tasted like and and how does that
those tasted like and and how does that flavor come about well you have a seed
flavor come about well you have a seed
flavor come about well you have a seed that has certain set of genetics in it
that has certain set of genetics in it
that has certain set of genetics in it right and those genetics or that genome
right and those genetics or that genome
right and those genetics or that genome determines how the plant will express
determines how the plant will express
determines how the plant will express its flavor but also you have something
its flavor but also you have something
its flavor but also you have something called the phenome which is the whole
called the phenome which is the whole
called the phenome which is the whole suite of environmental variables that
suite of environmental variables that
suite of environmental variables that the plant experiences while it’s growing
the plant experiences while it’s growing
the plant experiences while it’s growing that go on to express or not express
that go on to express or not express
that go on to express or not express those genetics and subsequent flavor so
those genetics and subsequent flavor so
those genetics and subsequent flavor so you have a seed right but you also have
you have a seed right but you also have
you have a seed right but you also have how much co2 is in the air when the
how much co2 is in the air when the
how much co2 is in the air when the plants growing the temperature and
plants growing the temperature and
plants growing the temperature and humidity of the air in which it grows
humidity of the air in which it grows
humidity of the air in which it grows the schedule of water and rainfall or
the schedule of water and rainfall or
the schedule of water and rainfall or the microbiome of the soil as wine
the microbiome of the soil as wine
the microbiome of the soil as wine growers know or just the color of light
growers know or just the color of light
growers know or just the color of light that it experiences while it’s growing
that it experiences while it’s growing
that it experiences while it’s growing that all add up to the phenome which
that all add up to the phenome which
that all add up to the phenome which causes this blue berry to express a
causes this blue berry to express a
causes this blue berry to express a particular flavor now what if we could
particular flavor now what if we could
particular flavor now what if we could decode the phenome of a particular
decode the phenome of a particular
decode the phenome of a particular flavor what if we could figure out which
flavor what if we could figure out which
flavor what if we could figure out which variables produce bitterness or
variables produce bitterness or
variables produce bitterness or sweetness well we would certainly need
sweetness well we would certainly need
sweetness well we would certainly need some sort of tool for that right we
some sort of tool for that right we
some sort of tool for that right we would need a growth chamber like the
would need a growth chamber like the
would need a growth chamber like the ones I was using the control photo
ones I was using the control photo
ones I was using the control photo period and temperature but what if what
period and temperature but what if what
period and temperature but what if what if we built one that had more knobs you
if we built one that had more knobs you
if we built one that had more knobs you could turn for each of those variables
could turn for each of those variables
could turn for each of those variables well we’re at MIT so yeah we’re doing
well we’re at MIT so yeah we’re doing
well we’re at MIT so yeah we’re doing that and it’s it’s called the food
that and it’s it’s called the food
that and it’s it’s called the food computer this is our our young version
computer this is our our young version
computer this is our our young version of the personal food computer a sort of
of the personal food computer a sort of
of the personal food computer a sort of desktop size
desktop size
desktop size and I like to think about this as sort
and I like to think about this as sort
and I like to think about this as sort of presets almost like the your car seat
of presets almost like the your car seat
of presets almost like the your car seat right imagine if you could take that
right imagine if you could take that
right imagine if you could take that flavor memory figure out the environment
flavor memory figure out the environment
flavor memory figure out the environment that produced it save that as data
that produced it save that as data
that produced it save that as data almost as a data file and mail it or
almost as a data file and mail it or
almost as a data file and mail it or email it to a friend who has a food
email it to a friend who has a food
email it to a friend who has a food computer and has the same seed as you
computer and has the same seed as you
computer and has the same seed as you and they could grow the precisely the
and they could grow the precisely the
and they could grow the precisely the same flavor tomato or flavor blueberry
same flavor tomato or flavor blueberry
same flavor tomato or flavor blueberry as you not merely just the same plant
as you not merely just the same plant
as you not merely just the same plant and we call this environment recipes and
and we call this environment recipes and
and we call this environment recipes and we think this is going to change the way
we think this is going to change the way
we think this is going to change the way we grow food in the future so that was
we grow food in the future so that was
we grow food in the future so that was the personal food computer this is our
the personal food computer this is our
the personal food computer this is our next generation of food computer it’s
next generation of food computer it’s
next generation of food computer it’s called the food server and I’d like to
called the food server and I’d like to
called the food server and I’d like to actually just show you the inside I just
actually just show you the inside I just
actually just show you the inside I just harvested our first plants and data this
harvested our first plants and data this
harvested our first plants and data this is an experiment I’m running on basil to
is an experiment I’m running on basil to
is an experiment I’m running on basil to see how UV light creates a tastier basil
see how UV light creates a tastier basil
see how UV light creates a tastier basil these are seedlings that I just
these are seedlings that I just
these are seedlings that I just germinated I’m still somewhat
germinated I’m still somewhat
germinated I’m still somewhat reluctantly manually collecting data and
reluctantly manually collecting data and
reluctantly manually collecting data and this is a new food computer we just
this is a new food computer we just
this is a new food computer we just built it’s called a tree computer and
built it’s called a tree computer and
built it’s called a tree computer and we’re building it for a candy company
we’re building it for a candy company
we’re building it for a candy company but I’ll save that for next year and
but I’ll save that for next year and
but I’ll save that for next year and what I love about this work is that I’m
what I love about this work is that I’m
what I love about this work is that I’m not merely just collecting data but I’m
not merely just collecting data but I’m
not merely just collecting data but I’m actually building and designing the
actually building and designing the
actually building and designing the tools to do the science and to collect
tools to do the science and to collect
tools to do the science and to collect the data and as much as this talk has
the data and as much as this talk has
the data and as much as this talk has been about how plants express themselves
been about how plants express themselves
been about how plants express themselves it’s also been about how I express
it’s also been about how I express
it’s also been about how I express myself through my work and if we go back
myself through my work and if we go back
myself through my work and if we go back to form and taste there was a transition
to form and taste there was a transition
to form and taste there was a transition in the form of my work right when you
in the form of my work right when you
in the form of my work right when you start off with this sort of sterile
start off with this sort of sterile
start off with this sort of sterile rubric of these growth stages and I
rubric of these growth stages and I
rubric of these growth stages and I changed that form to something more
changed that form to something more
changed that form to something more compelling and engaging like this
compelling and engaging like this
compelling and engaging like this time-lapse and with that change in form
time-lapse and with that change in form
time-lapse and with that change in form was a change in taste where you have
was a change in taste where you have
was a change in taste where you have or there was a change in taste or
or there was a change in taste or
or there was a change in taste or whereby I went I went from merely a
whereby I went I went from merely a
whereby I went I went from merely a biologist to having a more robust
biologist to having a more robust
biologist to having a more robust constellation of pursuits in engineering
constellation of pursuits in engineering
constellation of pursuits in engineering and design but it’s still rooted in
and design but it’s still rooted in
and design but it’s still rooted in science because I would argue that
science because I would argue that
science because I would argue that that’s this time-lapse is actually just
that’s this time-lapse is actually just
that’s this time-lapse is actually just as scientifically rigorous and data rich
as scientifically rigorous and data rich
as scientifically rigorous and data rich as the rubric it was born from so if I
as the rubric it was born from so if I
as the rubric it was born from so if I could offer some advice to any young
could offer some advice to any young
could offer some advice to any young folks in the audience just embarking on
folks in the audience just embarking on
folks in the audience just embarking on this work of decoding how they want to
this work of decoding how they want to
this work of decoding how they want to express themselves there are so many
express themselves there are so many
express themselves there are so many entry points into science science and
entry points into science science and
entry points into science science and research need photographers and farmers
research need photographers and farmers
research need photographers and farmers and I encourage you to continue this
and I encourage you to continue this
and I encourage you to continue this work that I hope shows that science and
work that I hope shows that science and
work that I hope shows that science and art aren’t just two disciplines that
art aren’t just two disciplines that
art aren’t just two disciplines that play well together but can often be the
play well together but can often be the
play well together but can often be the same thing and if you have as look as
same thing and if you have as look as
same thing and if you have as look as much luck as I have had you will go from
much luck as I have had you will go from
much luck as I have had you will go from having an interest in ecology to
having an interest in ecology to
having an interest in ecology to arriving at an ecology between your
arriving at an ecology between your
arriving at an ecology between your interests so thanks for your time I
interests so thanks for your time I
interests so thanks for your time I appreciate it
appreciate it
appreciate it [Applause]
”
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